Combination dentifrice dispenser and toothbrush supporting means



Jan. 15, 1952 H. c. BLANKENBILLER 2,

COMBINATION DENTIFRICE DISPENSER AND TOOTHBRUSH SUPPORTING MEANS Filed Dec. 2, 1949 Mae/z for WM W Patented Jan. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION DENTIFRICE DISPENSER AND TOOTHBRUSH SUPPORTING MEANS Harold C. Blankenbiller, East Hampton, Conn.

Application December 2, 1949, Serial No. 130,713

4 Claims. (Cl. 222-126) The present invention relates in general to dispensing-devices and moreespecially to'an improved container for dispensing powdered dentifrice, the invention pertaining in, particular to toothbrush-supporting means cooperatively associatedwith valve-means for delivering a quantity of powdered dentifrice onto the toothbrush. An object of the invention is to provide a superiorcontainer for dispensing a powdered dentifrice. V

A further object of the invention is to provide a dentifrice-dispensing container having toothbrush-supporting means and valve-means of durable and economical construction and characterized by ease and convenience of operation, whereby a powdered dentifrice may be delivered in a proper quantity onto a toothbrush without the liability of the powder being spilled and wasted, and also without the liability of the powder being wetted and deteriorated by the brush when the latter is wet.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a superior container for dispensing a powdered dentifrice wherein improved toothbrushsupporting means is used in conjunction with superior valve-means for delivering a measured quantity of powdered dentifrice onto the toothbrush. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tooth-powder dispensing-container with superior valve-means for delivering the dentifrice from the container onto a toothbrush.

Other objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the art from the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a front end elevation of a container for powdered dentifrice embodying the improved valve-means and toothbrush-supporting means of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section of the dentifrice container of Fig. 1 showing the endclosure provided with the improved valve-means and toothbrush-supporting means of this invention;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 but shows the sleeve-valve of the valve-means displaced for dispensing a quantity of powdereddentifrice'onto a toothbrush;

"Fig. 4 is an end elevation in section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the arrangement of the valvespring and valve spring supporting-bracket;

. 2 a Fig. 5 is an enlarged line 55 of Fig. 3 showing details of the construction of the valve-means of the dispenser;v

and

spring.

Referring to the drawings, the container for the powdered dentifrice is indicated generally at I0 and comprises preferably a conventional can formed of metal or an equivalent material and of elliptical shape in cross section, although any other cross section may be used. One end of the can is provided with a permanent end wall II, while the opposite end of the can is provided with a removable end-closure I2 which comprises a 'substantially-elliptical cover having a peripheral flange I3 at substantially right angles thereto arranged to telescope over the open end of the can and to be held thereon by frictional engagement therewith.

Formed integrally with the cover or endclosure I2 of the can is brush-supporting meansindicated generally at I4 and comprising a lipstruck up or otherwise formed. from the: endclosure I2 immediately adjacent the bottom edge thereof, the lip I4 being a hollow protuberance the major axis of the end-closure and is provided with an upper toothbrush-supporting surface I5 which is substantially fiat, substantially perpendicular to the plane of the end-closure, and extends substantially transversely of the major axis thereof.

Although the hollow lip construction is preferred from the standpoint of economy of con struction, it will be understood that the-brushsupporting lip I4 may be formed as a separate element, either hollow or solid, and fastened to the end-closure by welding, soldering or equivalent means.

Mounted at the opposite end of the end-closure I2 of the container substantially symmetricalv with respect to its major axis and perpendicular to the end-closure I2, is improved valve-means I 6 adapted to be used in conjunction with thebrush-supporting lip for delivering a quantity of powdered dentifrice onto a toothbrush supported thereon, as indicated by broken lines in Figs. 1,

2 and 3; The valve-means I6 is shown especially well in Figs. 2 and and comprises a cylindrical end elevation in section on,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the sleeve-valve of the dispenser including a modified valve-3 sleeve I1 adapted to engage at its inner end in an aperture 18 of corresponding dimensions in the end-closure l2 of the container; and to be fixedly secured in the aperture l8 by fasteningmeans which, in the embodiment shown, comprises an annular bead I9 having a bearing against theouter surface of the end-closure I2; and an inner annular flange 2!} turned over on the inner{ surface of the end-closure l2. Although this construction is preferred in the interest of economy and rigidity of construction, it will be appreciated that the sleeve I! may be welded to the end-closure l2 in its aperture [8, or formed integrallywith the end-closure by a; deep-draw process.

The outer end of the sleeve H is provided with an annular internal flange 2| bent at substantially right angles to the side walls of the sleeve and constituting stopmeans for the sleeve valve hereinafter described, the central opening defined by the annular flange 2f constituting a guide-aperture 22 for the sleeve-valve. Formed in: the bottom-side wall of'the sleeve I? adjacent the end wall 12 of the container, is an elongated discharge-port 23; the-longitudinal axis of which extends substantially transversely of the major axis of the end-closure l2.

Mounted within the sleeve I for'reciprocable movement therein; is a sleeve-valve indicated generally at 2 comprising a cylindrical skirtportion 25; and a forwardly-projecting substane tially-cylindrical' button-portion 26 of reduced diameter'providedlwith an imperforate end wall 2?, th'e-button-portion 26 of the sleeve-valve beinglslidable'in';theguide-aperture 22 of the sleeve I 1. 7 The external diameter of the skirt-portion- 25 ofthe-sleeve valve is such as to make a smooth sliding fit in the sleeve Ill Moreover, the overall length of the skirt-portion of the sleeve-valve corresponds substantially to the length of the sleeve H, the forward end 'of the skirt 25' having an annular shoulder 28 at its intersection, with thebutton-portion. 26' of the sleeve-valve arrangedto abut against the annular stop-shoulder 2 iof;the1;sleevel1-.' V r Formed in the bottomside' of the skirt-por tion 25 of'the sleeve-valve is an elongated aperture 29; which; in the normal" operating posishown in-Fig. 2; whereby the aperture 29 of the sleeve-valve is out f registry withthe dischargeport' 23 ofthesleeve, the resilientmeans for holding the sleeve-valve in its normal forward position comprising, in a preferred embodiment, acoil'springw adapted to be mounted within the sleeve-valve substantiallycoaxially therewith. To this end, the rear end of the coil spring 36 is adapted'to engage against andto be suitably securedto the upwardly-projecting bifurcated arm 3I' of a bracket 32, the lower end of which 7 is secured inany suitable manner to the inner fa'ce'of theend wall' H2; The opposite or forward end of; the coil spring 30iis adapted, to abut against the end"wall' 2T of the button-portion 26 of the sleeve-valve. In this connection, the button-portion 26 of the sleeve-valve is provided with an internal bushing 33 for supporting the forward end of'the coil spring30 in coaxial relationship with the rear end thereof.

In explaining the operation of the combined toothbrush-supporting means and valve of the dispenser, let it be assumed that the can 10 contains a powdered dentifrice. Then; by swinging the can down into a substantially-horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2, or better yet, into a dentifrice to wet or deteriorate the same.

the powdered dentifrice within the sleeve-valve;

will flow out of'the discharge-port 23 onto the tufts 34' of a brush supported on the brush supporting lip M directly beneath the dischargeport 23. Upon releasing the button-portion 2B of the sleeve-valve, the force of the compressed spring 30' will slide the sleeve-valve forwardly in the sleeve [1, thereby moving the apertureZB- of the sleeve-valve out of registry with the discharge-port 23 of the sleeve to close the latter.

Fig. 6 of the drawings shows a modified resilient means for actuating the sleeve-valve 2 3,

J the resilient means in the modified construction comprising preferably a substantially Y-shaped' leaf spring 35, the lower leg-portion 36 of which is riveted or secured in any equivalent manner to the inner face of the end-closure plate I2of the container, while the upper transversel -spaced arms 31, 31 of the leaf spring are engaged with the rear end of the sleeve-valve at substantially diametrically-opposite points on the horizontal diameter thereof. To minimize the area of contact with the end of the sleeve vaive, the upper extremity of each arm 37 of the leaf spring is; formed with an S bend to produce a substantiale ly-semicylindrical bearing-rib 38 for engagement with the inner end of the sleeve-valve.

'The improved powdered-dentifrice dispenser of this invention is thus characterized by im proved valve-means cooperatively associated with a toothbrush-supporting means for supporting the tufted portion of a toothbrush directly op:

posite the discharge-port of the valve-means for receiving a quantity of powdered dentifrice therefrom. In that the quantity of powdered dentifrice delivered from the valve-means on opening its discharge-port corresponds substantially to the quantity of powder within the valve means, the quantity of powder delivered is a; As indicated above, the

measured quantity. valve-means is constructed and arranged for operation by the index, finger or thumb of the hand holding the container, the toothbrushsupporting means being so disposed with respect.

to the valve-means that the tufts of the toothbrush do not come in contact with the powdered dispenser of this invention thus eliminates the.

necessity for pouring powder into the palm of the hand andpicking itup with the wet or damp tufts 0f the brush. 7

Although the: dispenser of this invention i especially suitable for dispensing a powdered The dentifrice, it will be understood that it may be used for dispensing powdered detergents and materials of a similar nature.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiment'sf are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. In a container for dispensing a powdered dentifrice, the combination including: an endclosure atone end of said container; toothbrushsupporting means adjacent one edge of said endclosure, said toothbrush-supporting means being a substantially-fiat element constructed and arranged to project substantially perpendicularly from the plane of said end-closure and to extend with its longitudinal axis substantially transversely of a major axis thereof; and valve-means adjacent the opposite edge of said end-closure, said valve-means being constructed and arranged to project outwardly substantially perpendicularly to theplane of said end-closure and having an elongated discharge-port directly opposite said toothbrush-supporting means, said elongated discharge-port extending substantially transversely of the said major axis of said end-closure.

2. In a container for dispensing a powdered dentifrice, the combination including: an endclosure at one end of said container; toothbrushsupporting means adjacent one edge of said endclosure, said toothbrush-supporting means comprising a substantially-flat integral lip projecting outwardly substantially perpendicularly from the plane of said end-closure and extending with its longitudinal axis substantially transversely of a major axis thereof; and manually-operated valve-means adjacent the opposite edge of said end-closure, said valve-means being constructed and arranged to project outwardly substantially perpendicularly to the plane of said end-closure and having an elongated discharge-port directly opposite said toothbrush-supporting means, said elongated discharge-port extending substantially transversely of the said major axis of said endclosure.

3. In a container for dispensing a powdered dentifrice, the combination including: an endclosure at one end of said container; toothbrushsupporting means adjacent one edge of said endclosure, said toothbrush-supporting means comprising an integral lip projecting outwardly substantially perpendicularly from the plane of said end-closure and extending substantially transversely of a major axis thereof; and valve-means adjacent the opposite edge of said end-closure, said valve-means comprising a sleeve secured to said end-closure and projecting outwardly substantially perpendicularly to the plane thereof, said sleeve having an elongated discharge-port therein directly opposite the said toothbrush-supporting lip and extending substantially parallel thereto, a sleeve-valve having an aperture therein, said sleeve-valve being slidably mounted in said sleeve for reciprocable movement therein to move the aperture of said sleeve-valve to and from registration with the elongated dischargeport of said sleeve, and resilient means constructed and arranged normally to hold said sleeve-valve resiliently in said sleeve with the aperture of said sleeve-valve out of registry with the discharge-port of said sleeve.

4. Valve-means for a detergent-dispensing container having an end-closure provided with an aperture in communication with said container, said valve-means comprising a sleeve having a discharge-port therein, said sleeve being secured to said end-closure over the aperture thereof. and substantially perpendicular to the plane of said end-closure, an annular stop-shoulder at the outer end of said sleeve, a sleeve-valve reciprocably mounted in said sleeve, said sleeve-valve having an end-wall, and an aperture in said sleeve-valve arranged to be registered with the discharge-port of said sleeve to permit discharge of the measured quantity of detergent within said valve-means therefrom and to be moved out of registry with the discharge-port of said sleeve to close said port, and resilient sleeve-valve operating-means for resiliently holding said Sleevevalve in said sleeve against the annular stopshoulder thereof, with the aperture of said sleevevalve out of registry with the discharge-port of said sleeve, said resilient means comprising a leaf spring secured at one end to said end-closure and engaged at its opposite end against the inner end of said sleeve-valve.

HAROLD C. BLANKENBILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are 01 record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 984,752 Deichmiller Feb. 21, 1911 1,270,512 Greaza June 25, 1918 2,037,093 Sella Apr. 14, 1936 2,056,096 Etter Sept. 29, 1936 2,119,160 Gringler May 31, 1938 2,134,141 Moore Oct. 25, 1938 

